4320. Identifying Adoptive Families

Applies To: This policy applies to child welfare employees.

Policy Number & Title: 4320. Identifying Adoptive Families

Effective Date: July 1, 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction on:

Identifying permanent adoptive homes for children and youth.
Providing information to adoptive families about prospective adoptive children or youth that allows them to make an informed decision on whether they want to be considered as an adoptive family.
Recruitment services and activities for children and youth in need of a permanent home.

Authority

PL 103-382 Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) of 1994

PL 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997

RCW 13.34.040 Petition to court to deal with dependent child-Application of federal Indian child welfare act

RCW 13.34.130 Order of disposition for a dependent child, alternatives-Petition seeking termination of parent-child relationship-Placement with relatives, foster family home, group care facility, or other suitable persons-Placement of an Indian child in out-of-home care-Contact with siblings

RCW 13.34.200 Order terminating parent and child relationship-Rights of parties when granted

RCW 13.34.210 Order terminating parent and child relationship-Custody where no one has parental rights

RCW 13.34.260 Foster home placement-Parental preferences-Foster parent contact with birth parents encouraged

RCW 70.24.110 Minors-Treatment, consent, liability for payment for care

RCW 74.13.031 Duties of department-Child welfare services-Children's services advisory committee

RCW 74.13.290 Fewest possible placements for children-Preferred placements

RCW 74.13.300 Notification of proposed placement changes

RCW 74.14A.020 Services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, potentially dependent children, and families-in-conflict

Chapter 13.50 RCW Keeping and release of records by juvenile justice or care agencies

Chapter 26.33 RCW Adoption

Chapter 70.02 RCW Medical records and health care information access and disclosure

WAC 110-60-0170 What must the department, private practitioner, or child placing agency do to locate records and information relating to the birth parents and the child?

WAC 110-60-0180 What information must the department or child placing agency provide to prospective adoptive parents about the child that is being considered for adoption?

WAC 110-60-0190 What information must the department or child placing agency provide to prospective adoptive parents about the birth parent(s) of a child being considered for adoption?

Policy

Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS) caseworkers and adoption caseworkers:
1. Must:
  1. Follow the Placing with and Supporting Unlicensed Relatives and Suitable Persons policy throughout the life of the case when children or youth are not placed with relatives.
  2. Continue relative searches when legally-free children or youth are not placed with relatives.
  3. Provide reasonable efforts to identify prospective adoptive families willing to agree to the terms of the Letters of Intent, as applicable.
  4. Assess prospective adoptive families for children and youth with a permanent plan of adoption.
  5. Identify prospective adoptive families through:
    1. Adoption planning reviews (APR) for children or youth prior to termination of parental rights (TPR) or accepting a relinquishment of parental rights.
    2. Shared planning meetings (SPM) for children or youth after termination of parental rights (TPR) or accepting a relinquishment of parental rights.
  6. Assess the child’s or youth’s best interest when making placement decisions. Best interest is determined on a case-by-case basis. The determination is made by considering their:
    1. Physical safety.
    2. Well-being, including physical, emotional, and mental health needs.
    3. Relationship or bond with current caregivers, if applicable.
    4. Capacity of the caregiver to meet their physical and well-being needs.
  7. Involve youth 12 years and older in case planning decisions.
  8. Assess and give preference to:
    1. Placement considerations from the following:
      1. Parents
      2. Guardians
      3. Children
      4. Youth
    2. Both of the following, per the Out-of-Home Placements policy:
      1. Relatives and suitable persons instead of a foster home that is unrelated and unknown to the family when determining a placement for a child or youth, when:
        They are safe and able to meet the child’s or youth’s needs.
        The placement is in the child’s or youth’s best interests.
      2. Placing siblings together when it is in the child’s or youth’s best interest.
  9. Maintain children’s or youth’s existing relationships with relatives of a specified degree that are not placement options when:
    1. Children or youth are dependent and legally-free. The rights of the relative of specified degree do not extend beyond adoption.
    2. A relationship with the relatives is determined to be in the child’s or youth’s best interest.
    3. Relatives of specified degree want to maintain a relationship with the child or youth.
    4. A SPM process recommends this contact.
  10. Follow Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Adoption policy when there is reason to know that the child or youth is or may be an Indian child.
  11. Verify the health, mental health, and education information on the child or youth is provided to prospective adoptive families prior to adoption finalization.
2. Must not deny:
  1. Adoptions or out-of-home placements based on the race, or national origin of the prospective adoptive parents or the child or youth involved, per MEPA. This provision does not apply to nor affect Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
  2. Any individual above the age of 18 the opportunity to become an adoptive parent based on race or national origin.
  3. Adoptive placements with an approved family residing outside the jurisdiction or office providing case management for the child’s or youth’s case.
CFWS caseworkers must follow the Case Transfer policy after relinquishment or TPR hearings to initiate the case transfer to adoptions.
Adoption supervisors must follow the Case Transfer policy when assigning new cases to adoption caseworkers.
Adoption caseworkers must provide information and guidance to prospective adoptive families, adoptees, and employees about the adoption process and available services when requested.